George Lucas was developing Star Wars: Episode VII for a year before selling Lucasfilm to Disney

As we get closer and closer to STAR WARS: EPISODE VII going into production, many thank the Maker for how much further and further away George Lucas is getting from the Saga. I, for one, feel that Lucas should maintain a vested interest in the series. After all, he did create it. I am fine with him taking a hands off approach to the new trilogy, but we also know he will remain a creative consultant on the new films. So, just how involved is Lucas with STAR WARS: EPISODE VII? Just ask his son, Jett Lucas.

Mashable shared an interview with Lucas' son where he explains that his father had been working on EPISODE VII through IX for a year prior to the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney. Does this mean that Lucas was intending to launch the trilogy himself before the sale became viable? or, was Lucas always intending to hand the new films over to someone younger? The question is an interesting one because Lucas conceived of the original trilogy as well as the prequels. The biggest difference between the films is that he let other writers and directors have input on EMPIRE and JEDI where the prequels were all George.

Asked if Lucas was keeping a watchful eye over what happens next with Star Wars, he replied: Yeah, as any parent watching their kid going to college would. Hes constantly talking to J.J. [Abrams, director of Episode VII]. Obviously J.J. was handpicked. He [Lucas] is there to guide, whenever, hell help where he can. At the same time, he wants to let it go and become its new generation.

I like Lucas being there but also that he is letting these filmmakers make the final decisions. Lucas never was able to veto himself so the prequels always felt overindulgent. I have faith that these new movies will maintain a better balance.

As for details on STAR WARS: EPISODE VII and beyond, Jett did not reveal much beyond saying that he knows what his father outlined for the stories and that he is looking forward to the "new generation" of characters. Whether that means we are seeing the Solo and Skywalker children or not still remains unknown. We will likely have a longer wait to know what is to come.

Best Star Wars flicks were the ones were Lucas stood back and let someone else write the screenplay and direct. Hell, best ANY MOVIE involving George Lucas are the films where he was just the idea man. The first three Indy flicks, for instance - though he did have a big role in "Doom", easily the worst of the originals. Keep him away from the day-to-day, the writing, and the actors (especially the actors, Jesus), and these new Star Wars movies should be great flicks.

Best Star Wars flicks were the ones were Lucas stood back and let someone else write the screenplay and direct. Hell, best ANY MOVIE involving George Lucas are the films where he was just the idea man. The first three Indy flicks, for instance - though he did have a big role in "Doom", easily the worst of the originals. Keep him away from the day-to-day, the writing, and the actors (especially the actors, Jesus), and these new Star Wars movies should be great flicks.

Control freak

Let go, George. Have you even really sat down and watched your horrible movies? The best Star Wars movies are the ones that you have the LEAST amount of involvement in...is that coincidence? I think not.

Let go, George. Have you even really sat down and watched your horrible movies? The best Star Wars movies are the ones that you have the LEAST amount of involvement in...is that coincidence? I think not.

I don't understand. He's been complaining about why should he make anymore Star Wars after the (well deserved) backlash from the prequels and it turns out that he was doing it anyway? Lucas has been ruining any project that he's involved with where he does anymore than the special effects and people think it's good that he's a consultant talking to JJ everyday??? Yeah, he created this series as well as others and they've been great. Now he should leave them alone as he's just been ruining them

I don't understand. He's been complaining about why should he make anymore Star Wars after the (well deserved) backlash from the prequels and it turns out that he was doing it anyway? Lucas has been ruining any project that he's involved with where he does anymore than the special effects and people think it's good that he's a consultant talking to JJ everyday??? Yeah, he created this series as well as others and they've been great. Now he should leave them alone as he's just been ruining them left and right for no reason!!!

always in control

As long as George Lucas is around he will have creative input in the Star Wars Universe. Whether it be passive or othewise. This isn't just doing a movie, this is adding to someone's Life's work. Anyways. Just going on a rant.

As long as George Lucas is around he will have creative input in the Star Wars Universe. Whether it be passive or othewise. This isn't just doing a movie, this is adding to someone's Life's work. Anyways. Just going on a rant.

Lucas is a creative guy, he just cant direct worth a damn. The proof lies with the 2 best movies (IMO) in the franchise not being directed by him. My biggest problem with the prequels are the performances.For example there were moments where Natalie Portman's performance made me cringe. But look at Leon beforehand,Vendetta during and of course her winning the Oscar for Black Swan afterwards. The man is damn near incapable of getting good performances from his actors

Lucas is a creative guy, he just cant direct worth a damn. The proof lies with the 2 best movies (IMO) in the franchise not being directed by him. My biggest problem with the prequels are the performances.For example there were moments where Natalie Portman's performance made me cringe. But look at Leon beforehand,Vendetta during and of course her winning the Oscar for Black Swan afterwards. The man is damn near incapable of getting good performances from his actors

Good; leave writing and directing to the pros!

He certainly can provide "a good yarn". His faults are in thinking that he's up to doing a good job writing a screenplay and - most especially - directing when he hires a bunch of Yes Men around him too afraid to disagree with his creation, nor provide input when it's obvious he's making a mistake.

He certainly can provide "a good yarn". His faults are in thinking that he's up to doing a good job writing a screenplay and - most especially - directing when he hires a bunch of Yes Men around him too afraid to disagree with his creation, nor provide input when it's obvious he's making a mistake.

I just remember that, the farther George Lucas got from WB's THE CLONE WARS series, the better it was. So I'm fine with George Lucas taking a more hands-off approach with EPISODE VII: at least we'll no longer have pointless light saber duels, Jar Jar Binks and Truman Capote the Hutt.

I just remember that, the farther George Lucas got from WB's THE CLONE WARS series, the better it was. So I'm fine with George Lucas taking a more hands-off approach with EPISODE VII: at least we'll no longer have pointless light saber duels, Jar Jar Binks and Truman Capote the Hutt.

Oh, the duels were great. It was just the fact that the writers had to work overtime to figure out how to end them because we knew both participants were going to survive. That kinda sucks the suspense out of a good fight scene.

Oh, the duels were great. It was just the fact that the writers had to work overtime to figure out how to end them because we knew both participants were going to survive. That kinda sucks the suspense out of a good fight scene.

To this day I'm still surprised Lucas sold his company. I always had a theory that his over-protective control of Star Wars came from his experience with the Star Wars holiday special (of which he had little-to-no control). To be honest, if someone abused my creation that badly I'd probably react the same way. I'm fine with him still being involved in some capacity, much like Roddenberry was for Trek or Rowling will likely be for the new Potter-verse films.

To this day I'm still surprised Lucas sold his company. I always had a theory that his over-protective control of Star Wars came from his experience with the Star Wars holiday special (of which he had little-to-no control). To be honest, if someone abused my creation that badly I'd probably react the same way. I'm fine with him still being involved in some capacity, much like Roddenberry was for Trek or Rowling will likely be for the new Potter-verse films.

I think it's the ideal situation. The man comes up with the ideas, based on the world he's been building in his head for ages, and then passes them on to a different team to see it to completion. I think a lot of the problems people had with the prequel trilogy can be attributed to George Lucas not having anyone come up to him and say "maybe this isn't a great idea" or "maybe this line should be rewritten". He had carte blanche to do as he pleased and, in all fairness, he earned that - but the

I think it's the ideal situation. The man comes up with the ideas, based on the world he's been building in his head for ages, and then passes them on to a different team to see it to completion. I think a lot of the problems people had with the prequel trilogy can be attributed to George Lucas not having anyone come up to him and say "maybe this isn't a great idea" or "maybe this line should be rewritten". He had carte blanche to do as he pleased and, in all fairness, he earned that - but the films probably suffered for it.